ABSTRACT

Harold Lasswell introduced the developmental construct of the garrison state more than a half century ago in an analysis of the Sino-Japanese War. The garrison sate concept was proposed as the antithesis of the civilian state. Lasswell suggested the garrison state would evolve from the industrial state in response to technical achievement. The garrison state called for technologically sophisticated military personnel, that is, "specialists on violence", to be in control of society. The variable which rendered the environment ripe for movement toward a garrison state, according to Lasswell, was a technological revolution. The most relevant point to the issue of the garrison state was that the armed forces distanced themselves from the officers involved. Both active-duty officers subsequently elected to retire. The constant threat of war throughout the world continues to provide environmental circumstances suitable for the evolution of a garrison state.